Mobile app development cost depends mostly on how much the app does behind the screen. At Vectorkub, a simple app starts from ฿34,999, a typical business app with logins, payments and an admin dashboard costs ฿80,000–120,000 over 2–3 months, and complex apps with real-time features run ฿150,000–300,000 over 4–6 months. On top of the build, budget for store fees, backend hosting and yearly maintenance.
Typical mobile app cost and timeline
Market quotes vary widely, so use these as a guide to what each level of app involves rather than a fixed price list.
| App type | What it usually includes | Price (THB) | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple app or MVP | A few screens, content display, forms, basic backend | From 34,999 | Around 1–2 months |
| Business app | User accounts, payment integration, admin dashboard, external APIs, notifications | 80,000–120,000 | 2–3 months |
| Complex / enterprise app | High user volume, real-time features, custom integrations, scalable backend | 150,000–300,000+ | 4–6 months |
These are Vectorkub's price levels. Other studios and freelancers in Thailand may quote lower or much higher depending on scope, team and quality standards.
What you are actually paying for
An app is rarely just the part you see on the phone. A typical project includes:
- UX/UI design: user flows, wireframes and screen designs for both iOS and Android
- The mobile app: screens, navigation, offline behaviour, device features such as camera or GPS
- Backend and API: the server, database and business logic the app talks to
- Admin panel: a web dashboard where your team manages users, content and orders
- Integrations: payment gateways, maps, SMS OTP, LINE Login, ERP or CRM
- Testing: on real iPhones and Android phones with different screen sizes and OS versions
- Store release: store listings, screenshots, privacy details and review submission
If a quote looks unusually low, check which of these it leaves out. The backend and admin panel are the parts most often missing.
Native vs cross-platform: Flutter and React Native
Native development
Native apps are built separately for each platform: Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. You get full access to every platform feature on day one and the best possible performance, but you maintain two codebases, which usually means more time and cost.
Cross-platform development
Flutter (by Google, using Dart) and React Native (by Meta, using JavaScript or TypeScript) let one codebase run on both iOS and Android. For most business apps such as booking, e-commerce, loyalty, field service and internal tools, performance is more than good enough and total cost is lower.
| Factor | Native (Swift / Kotlin) | Cross-platform (Flutter / React Native) |
|---|---|---|
| Codebases | Two | One shared (with some platform-specific code) |
| Build cost | Higher | Lower for most apps |
| Performance | Best | Very good for typical business apps |
| New OS features | Available immediately | Sometimes need a plugin or native code |
| Best for | Graphics-heavy apps, deep hardware use, platform-first products | Most SME and business apps |
A practical rule: choose cross-platform unless you have a specific reason not to, such as heavy 3D, advanced camera processing or Bluetooth hardware control.
Timeline: from idea to app store
- Discovery and scope (1–2 weeks): define users, core features and what is out of scope for version one.
- UX/UI design (2–4 weeks): user flows, wireframes, then visual design you approve.
- Development (several sprints): app, backend and admin panel built in parallel, with demos every one to two weeks.
- Testing and beta (1–3 weeks): real-device testing through TestFlight on iOS and internal testing tracks on Google Play.
- Store review and launch: Apple and Google both review apps before release. Review is often done within a few days, but first submissions are sometimes rejected for missing privacy information or incomplete features, so leave buffer time.
Hidden costs checklist
These are the costs that often appear after the build quote is signed:
- Developer accounts: Apple Developer Program at US$99 per year; Google Play Console one-time US$25 registration
- Store commissions: Apple and Google take typically 15–30% of digital goods and subscriptions sold in the app. Physical goods and real-world services usually use a normal payment gateway instead (see our payment gateway integration guide)
- Backend hosting and database: a monthly cost that grows with users
- Third-party services: SMS OTP is usually charged per message; maps and some APIs charge by usage
- Yearly OS updates: new iOS and Android versions each year, and Google Play requires apps to target a recent Android API level to publish updates
- Maintenance: bug fixes, security updates and small improvements. A common rule of thumb is to budget around 15–20% of the build cost per year
- Privacy compliance: a privacy policy, PDPA-compliant data handling, and in-app account deletion if users can create accounts, which both stores require
How to keep the cost under control
- Start with an MVP. Launch the smallest version that solves the core problem, then add features based on real usage.
- Go cross-platform unless you have a clear native requirement.
- Reuse what you have. If you already have a website backend or an ERP with an API, the app can build on it.
- Question whether you need an app at all. A responsive web app, or a LINE mini app built with LIFF, can be cheaper and avoids app store downloads. Apps make most sense when users return often, or you need push notifications, offline use or device features.
FAQ
How much does a simple mobile app cost?
At Vectorkub, simple apps start from ฿34,999. Apps with user accounts, payments and an admin dashboard typically cost ฿80,000–120,000.
Should I choose Flutter or React Native?
Both are mature and suitable for business apps. Flutter gives very consistent UI across devices; React Native is a natural fit if your team already uses JavaScript or React on the web. The team's experience matters more than the framework.
How long does it take to build an app?
A simple app takes around one to two months, a typical business app two to three months, and complex apps four to six months or more, including design, testing and store review.
How much does it cost to maintain an app each year?
A common rule of thumb is 15–20% of the original build cost per year, plus hosting and third-party service fees. Apps that are not updated eventually break on new OS versions.
Plan your app with a clear budget
Tell us what your app needs to do and we will help you define a realistic first version, timeline and budget, including the running costs. Learn more about our mobile app development services or contact us for a free consultation.